News From the Archdiocese of Birmingham

How can we take this message of Hope... to those who most need to hear it?

Reflection: Jubilee Icon

The Bishops' Conference of England and Wales - taking advantage of CAFOD's strong links with the Church around the world - has commissioned an icon to be painted for the Jubilee Year 2025, 'Pilgrims of Hope'. Created by the artist, Mulugeta Araya, in Ethiopia, the icon depicts Jesus standing up in the synagogue and proclaiming the year of the Lord's favour in chapter four of Luke's Gospel.

It is a moment of revelation, when St Luke clearly frames Jesus' mission and identity for us, in the foreground of his narrative. In a similar way the Jubilee icon opens a window onto this event, framing this important moment in Christ's ministry. Icons are frequently referred to as windows onto heaven, and are intended to invite us to reflect more deeply on these eternal mysteries.

More information about the icon can be found on the CAFOD website, but the icon depicts the message of Christ being brought out beyond the walls of the synagogue, to those poor, blind and captive, who are hungry to hear Christ's words of liberation and salvation.

As the icon makes its way around our diocese, and then around the country, how can we take this message of Hope - which is at the very heart of the Jubilee - to those who most need to hear it? Can your words and actions become a window onto heaven for someone you know?

Visit our diocesan website for more details, and please tell us what you are planning to mark this 'year of the Lord's favour'.

Paul Northam, Diocesan Co-ordinator for the Jubilee Year 2025 'Pilgrims of Hope'

Jubilee Icon now in the Archdiocese of Birmingham

The official Jubilee icon is visiting three locations in the Archdiocese.

In order to celebrate and commemorate the Jubilee Year 2025, Pilgrims of Hope, CAFOD commissioned an icon from artist Mulugeta Araya in Ethiopia, for the Catholic Church in England and Wales.

Ethiopia was chosen because of the strong tradition of iconography within the country and to demonstrate that this is a global Jubilee – not just something that is happening in England and Wales.

The icon has visited The Church of Blessed Dominic Barberi and Newman College in Littlemore, Oxford (pictured).

It is now at St Chad's Cathedral from today, Thursday 16 to Tuesday 21 January.

The final stop will be St Teresa of the Child Jesus, Trent Vale, Stoke-on-Trent, from Thursday 23 to Sunday 26 January.

How are you celebrating the Jubilee Year 2025?

What are you doing in your parish, school, community to celebrate the Jubilee? We want to know!

Please let the Communications Team know so we can publicise your celebrations and share stories and photographs.

There’s also a diocesan Jubilee calendar we can add to here

Please feel free to contact us via communications@rcaob.org.uk

Support Catholic Chaplaincy in Prisons

This Jubilee Year, as you journey as a Pilgrim of Hope, please consider an involvement in prison chaplaincy.

Deacon Peter Tibke, the Archbishop’s Advisor on Prison Chaplaincy, is inviting people to support this area of work in the Archdiocese - which has 13 prisons across the patch.

Could you carry out the mission that Jesus asked us to do?

In Matthew 25:36, The Passion Translation (TPT): ‘and when I was poorly clothed, you covered me. When I was sick, you tenderly cared for me, and when I was in prison you visited me.'

The Chaplaincy is open to both clergy and lay people.

Annual Report and Financial Overview 2023

You can now access the latest Annual Report and Overview documents for the Archdiocese of Birmingham on the diocesan website.

The documents are available to download and print if you wish.

Simply click on the image to open.

Thank you from Father Hudson's Caritas

We would like to say a huge thank you to all Catholic schools across the Archdiocese who supported Father Hudson's Caritas collecting toiletries for the recent Reverse Advent Calendar.

We had an incredible response to our appeal and have been overwhelmed by the generosity of all involved. We received well over 104,000 items.

The donations are being given out to people in need across our projects and services.

Thanksgiving Mass for Marriage - register now

Are you celebrating a significant wedding anniversary in 2025? Are you engaged to be married this year? Or would you simply like to give thanks to God for your marriage, and ask for His ongoing blessings?

If so, we would like to invite you to attend this year's Thanksgiving Mass for Marriage.

To be held on Saturday 3 May, 12noon, at St Chad's Cathedral. Celebrated by Bishop Richard Walker.

Please register by Sunday 13 April.

Lourdes Pilgrimage - You're invited!

Will you join us this Jubilee Year? Saturday 24 - Friday 30 May

We are delighted to announce that booking is now OPEN for the Annual Pilgrimage to Lourdes with the Archdiocese of Birmingham.

If you would like to travel to Lourdes but in need of assistance we can help. Assisted pilgrims have the support of doctors, nurses, carers and hospitaliers throughout their time on pilgrimage. You will participate fully in the pilgrimage and experience the love of God through the care, love and friendship of volunteers.

As well as applications from assisted pilgrims we're also keen to hear from doctors, nurses and carers eager to volunteer their time and experience Lourdes.

You can find information on booking by coach or by air with the Archdiocese, or you can also join us as an affiliate pilgrim if you prefer. Find all the details on our booking page.

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Saturday 18 - Saturday 25 January

We are invited to reflect on the story of Martha’s confession of faith in Jesus as narrated in John 11:17-27. Each is called to sit with Jesus’ provocative question to Martha: “Do you believe this?”

Materials for the week have been prepared by the ecumenical community at Bose in Northern Italy.

Ecumenical Service, Kings Heath

Sunday 19 January, 6.30pm at Cambridge Road Methodist Church, Kings Heath.

Kings Heath Churches Together invite you to join parishioners from St Dunstan's Catholic Church; New Life Baptist Church; All Saints Anglican Church; Kings Heath Quakers and Cambridge Road Methodists, to mark the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

Sunday of the Word of God

To be celebrated on Sunday 26 January

The Third Sunday of Ordinary Time is the 'Sunday of the Word of God' - a day, instituted by Pope Francis on the Feast of Saint Jerome in 2019, devoted to the celebration and study of Sacred Scripture.

Lots of resources are available for use in our parishes and schools.

Responding to the Call of Creation- January

January’s edition of Responding to the Call of Creation is now available on the Diocesan website, looking ahead to some of the major events this year including the Global Climate Summit at University of Oxford on the 4-7 June.

This will include local activities themed around climate justice in partnership with UN Human Rights.

Invitation: Marking the New Year with #Pray24Brum

#Pray24Brum is an opportunity to begin the New Year praying together with other Christians for Birmingham.

Now in its 11th year, #Pray24Brum creates a canopy of prayer. Each hour is led by a different group or church, allowing you to experience prayers from different traditions.

Taking place during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, #Pray24Brum 2025 will take place over Friday 24 and Saturday 25 January. Our hosts will be Trinity Birmingham in Small Heath.

Plan to attend for one hour, for several hours, or for the whole 24 hours. Join in person or online.

Consider volunteering at Tabor Living, Birmingham

You're invited to come and join the team for the first open/taster session of 2025 on Sunday 26 January.

An opportunity to visit the project, find out more information and help on a shift to meet our guests.

Volunteers are at the heart of Tabor Living and have helped change the lives of homeless individuals since we opened in September 2017.

Booking now open for January event at Oscott College

Illustrious or Illegal? The 120 year argument on the use of Gothic Vestments (1837-1957)

Wednesday 29 January at St Mary's College, Oscott.

Come and join the college curator to learn more about the fascinating history which surrounds the use of ‘Gothic’ vestments in the Catholic church from 1837-1957, and get up close to beautiful examples of these vestments from Oscott’s museum, founded by A.W.Pugin, not normally on display.

Could you befriend a refugee?

Restore, a project of Birmingham Churches Together, are currently recruiting new volunteer befrienders.

Their next training course is on Saturday 8 February in Harborne, Birmingham.

New volunteers would be matched to a refugee to offer welcome, support, conversational English practice and friendship. This course is necessary for all volunteer befrienders.

If you’re not yet sure about befriending, please come along to find out more. There is no obligation to volunteer at the end.

Save the Date - FHC Fundraising Ball

Father Hudson's Caritas will host its annual event on Saturday 15 March.

Dance the night away and help raise money for a great cause.

The Ball will take place at St Johns Hotel, Solihull, 7pm for 7.40pm. Black Tie preferred.

Individual tickets are £55 each which includes a three-course dinner and dancing to the wonderful Movida.

Jobs and Volunteering

Opportunities with the Archdiocese and other organisations

Independent Council Member, Birmingham Newman University

Are you willing to gift your time, skills and expertise to improving the life chances of others through education?

Do you want to gain board level experience, or use the experience you already have at this level, in a collaborative and inclusive community that creates opportunities for all?

If yes, consider joining the Birmingham Newman University Council (its governing body) as an independent member.

Various roles at Father Hudson's Caritas including:

Family Support Worker
Senior Care Leader
Foster Carers
Relief Support Worker

Workplace Chaplaincy Training course. Starts in February in Warwick.

Do you have a few hours to spare each week? Are you looking for a way to volunteer in the community? Are you, or your church, looking for a way to share the love of Jesus beyond its walls?

WorkCare West Midlands (WWM) is an ecumenical Christian charity which trains, places and supports voluntary workplace chaplains throughout Coventry, Warwickshire, Birmingham and Solihull, often in partnership with local church outreach programmes.

Director / Chief Executive Officer - Catholic Care (Caritas Leeds)

We are seeking to appoint a values-inspired and visionary leader who can shape our charity and deliver in its mission to support adults, children and families in need across a diverse range of services.

Visit website for full details

Online Spiritual Retreat hosted by ADoRE

Saturday 25 January, 10am to 1pm.

"Pilgrims of Hope - Jesus is the Way” Including Mass, Adoration, Praise, Prayer for the gifts of the Holy Spirit and inspiring guest speaker Daniella Stephens.

ADoRE (Alton Day of Renewal) is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and launches a special Jubilee programme on Saturday 25 January with a meeting on Zoom, open to anyone.

ADoRE is a monthly meeting of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, dedicated to the encouragement of a personal relationship with God, through Jesus, in the power of the Holy Spirit.

World Leprosy Day 2025

Sunday 26 January

The John Bradburne Memorial Society (JBMS) is calling on individuals and communities to support its mission on World Leprosy Day.

This annual day of awareness shines a spotlight on the ongoing challenges faced by those affected by leprosy, a neglected tropical disease that continues to impact thousands globally.

Please consider donating, raising awareness, praying.

Word on Fire: The Bible. Evangelisation and Culture Conference, London

Friday 21 - Saturday 22 February 2025 ExCel London.

Join Bishop Barron, N.T. Wright, Professor Tracey Rowland, Dr Holly Ordway and more in February 2025 at Word on Fire's Evangelisation & Culture Conference in London.

The Bible is the heart of evangelisation. As St Jerome observed long ago, “Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ.”

At this conference, we will uncover the spiritual and theological meaning of the Bible from a genuinely Catholic approach, reading it within the context of the great and beautiful chorus of voices from across the centuries of the Church’s tradition.

Experiencing marriage difficulty? Help is at hand.

Retrouvaille is a Catholic ministry for marriages in difficulty. We help couples whose relationships 'need a little help' to those with more serious challenges and thus are separated or considering divorce.

Our next programme starts next month, February. Running online Thursday 27 February to Sunday 2 March.

Last year (2024) Retrouvaille England and Wales helped over 70 couples bring hope and healing back into their marriage.

Please follow us online

This email was sent to stthomas-stedmund.bham@rcaob.org.ukYou received this email because you are registered with Archdiocese of Birmingham
Registered charity number 234216

View our Privacy Policy: https://www.birminghamdiocese.org.uk/privacy-policy

Unsubscribe here